The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-24
CHOLERA IN NEW YORK BAY
A Steamer Arrives from the Mediterra-
mean with Several Cases Aboard.
Ample Precautions Taken and No Fears En-
tertained that the Disease Will Gain
Foothold Here-Health officers Views.

and Naples with six hundred passengers, has
Asiatic cholera aboard Eight of her passengers
died on the passage and ner arrival at quar-
antine the health officer found four cases aboard.
He has sent the AlesIa and her passengers
to West bank. in the lower bay. The Alesia left
Marseies Aug. 30, and Naples Sept. 8. She is
consigned to James W. Ellwel & Co.
On Sept. II. Luigi Maria. steerage passen-
ger. aged twenty-three years, was taken sick,
and died on the 18th. Paul Antonio Baldyaria.
another steerage passenger, aged thirty eight,
was taken sick and died on the same date the
10Th. Jean Lenivoin, sailor. aged forty, died
the following day. in less than twenty-four hours
from the time he was taken down with the dis
ease. On the nth Jean Somma, a sailor aged
thirty, was taken sick. He died the 10Th.
Seratin de Lis, aged twenty one, Storage pas
senger, died on the Goth. Anna Veltriged, q
steerage passenger, aged twenty, died on the 2lst.
Francisco Marteo. aged forty one. taken
sick before coming board, and died on the
22d, probably of bronchitis. Maria Antonio
Scala Veno. aged fifty nine. was also ailing at
the time of coming board. and died the
22d. though without any symptoms of cholera.
All the above were buried at The Alesia is
now in the lower bay. Her sick passengers will
be transferred to the wueburne-island hospital
All the remaining passengers will be transferred
to Hoffman island for observation. The ship
will remain in the lower bay until she has been
thoroughly fumigated and cleansed.
ne steamer Ale6fa, captain Nailatt, Salle0
from Naples when the cholera was raging in that
city and in the vicinity. and in an even worse
form in other Italian ports and in Sicily. Those
who were taken sick got aboard at Naples. The
other ports at which she took passengers and
merchandise were Marseilles, Genoa, Naples and
Palermo. It is thought that some of the cases
originally came from Sicily.
In speaking of his experience at the hospital
islands. Mr.. knlle said that he was very much
surprised to see every one so cheerful on board
the steamer. Every one seemed as happy and
Id
which the general agent went down the bay.
took an assorted lot of provisions, which
had been selected by the health
The Fabre line paid the cost of the
provisions, which were sufficient to feed the
passengers for day at least. An ample stock
will be laid in The amount of
baggage which is always carried on board these
steamers was taken off the steamer to Hoffman
island. The baggage and passengers were
placed in one of the large hospitals and subject
AS fast as the passengers and baggage
were fumigated they were transferred to
the hospital building, which stands about 100
feet distant. Everything was done to avoid all
chance of future ravages of the disease. The
steamer was also subjected to thorough disin.
lection and cleaning. The water in the tanks
was in the first place empted and filled with
clean croton water. The disinfectant used in
the ship was also sulphur. In day or two the
Alesia will be in shape to be transferred from her
present place in the lower bay to
BOWS dock, Brooklyn. The and
passengers according to the health officer
will have to remain the island for week at
least. The time is indefinite, depending upon
developments. The disease was of hibernat-
ing nature The germs would live through the
winter and develop in the spring. Two of those
who sick appeared to be improving some
what Many of the people who were on board
the Alesia undoubtedly fed from the epidemic,
which is now raging in Italy and Sicily. At
least one of the passengers was sick when the
steamer left Naples. 1t not then known
that the disease was cholera.
The steamers which hereafter arrive from
Mediterranean ports will be subjected to very
close examination by the health officer. The
steamer indiana. which arrived off quarantine
this afternoon from Palermo. Naples and Mes
sina, closely examined for cholera
None were found. however. The Indiana's
bill of health from Naples, signed by
Edward Camphausen. United States consul.
states that there are many cases OF cholera at
Naples and vicinity Seventy per cent. of the
cases are fatal The Palermo bill of health
signed by United States Consul Philip Carroll,
The Messna bill OF health, signed by United
States Consul ". s. Jones' states that there
an average of two new cases of cholera day in
that city. The Indiana sailed from Naples two
days later than the Alesia.
President Bayles, of the Health board, is not
st all alarmed over the outbreak of the cholera
says to worry The department is in good shape
to deal with the disease In the event
of epidemic the board would have
$50, 900 at their command The present
epidemic of 1866 The scourge had visited New
FORK in l848 and 1S49, and in IS54-55 The last
visitation aided In the discovery or the true ma
ture of the disease. and dread gave way to =
calmer view. Nevertheless the ne VS. in Novem
Der, 1865, of the arrival of a cholera-shp from
Havre caused CONSERVATION. Strict quarantine
work kept the disease out but the following
A pril brought half a dozen steamships with
CHI olera-nfected passengers The Virginia
the England. with 250 deaths out of 200 passen-
gers. The latter arrived April 20. 1866 Ten
days later the first case occurred in New York.
In that year the disease killed 1912 persons in
this city. land was the last visitation.
Secretary Mellen. of the Quarantine COM
mission, returned from Hofmans island late
tonight. He said that there were ten sick
passengers on the Alesa, sent to Swineburne
island. When he left Hofmans island a woman
andstwo children were Sick supposed to be in
The first stages of the dread disease. Death
among those affected were liable to occur at any
moment. Much difficulty experienced in
landing the passengers. one of the boats of the
Alesia having been disabled on Friday last.
What SUPERINTENDENT Hamilton Says.
WASHINGTON, Sept 23.-Surgeon- general
Hamilton. of the Marine Hospital Service, has
received dispatch from New York confirming
the press report of the arrival there of the
steamship Alesia, with cholera on board. The
tele gram merely announced the facts in the
Ease published, without making a request for
government assistance, and it is thought the
authorities of New York feel conf
dent of their ability to stamp out the disease
without asking the help of the United States
health officers. DIR. Stoner, of the Marine Hos
ptal. announces that authority is vested in
the bureau TO interfere in State quarantine
affairs, unless a request comes from the health
officers of the State for assistance. New York,
be says. hasa very large and efficient quarantine
board fully able, in his opinion. to grapple sue
cessfuly with the exigercies of the occasion.
Experiences of the past, the Doctor said. were
not likely to be repeated because the value of
measures fully appre-
ciared. Their lessons were too we'll understood
by the health officers throughout the country
for them to neglect to take any precautions
occasion of this kind. The his
tory of past epidemics has shown that it Is only
by repeated arrivals of cholera infected vessels
that the disease gained footho.d in this coun-
try. It is not indigenous, and our CHI
mata and soil are not favorable to It's